Ayurvedic drugs- Power up capsules, Tiger king cream found laced with Viagra, Anaesthetic: FDA

MUMBAI: Two ayurvedic drugs meant to increase sexual desire and potency randomly tested for quality by Aurangabad division of FDA has found containing allopathic medicines.

TOI recently reported that sildenafil citrate which is commonly known as Viagra, and a short-acting anaesthetic drug were found in the two ayurveda medicines which finally compelled the drug regulatory body to issue a statewide circular asking its officials to seize any available stock of these drugs— Power up capsules and Tiger king cream.

The two ayurvedic drugs found containing allopathic medicines are Power up capsules and Tiger king cream. The containers of both the drugs didn’t mention the allopathic components sildenafil and anaesthetic drug (lignocaine hydrochloride) . These can cause serious health problems in people who might consume them unknowingly. Only the herbal components were mentioned in the packing material.

Viagra is given for erectile dysfunction, is supposed to be taken only when prescribed by a specialist as it can react with other ongoing medications and give rise to life-threatening complications.

Srishti Unani Medicine Agency in Aurangabad has been raided by FDA officials this month and the stocks of the medicines worth Rs 16000 were found that had arrived from Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

After testing it was found that each Power-up capsule contained 49.45mg of Viagra and Tiger king cream had a significant amount of lignocaine hydrochloride. The drugs were manufactured in violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

SS Kale, joint commissioner, FDA, Aurangabad told TOI, “We will lodge an FIR against Naman India, the UP-based manufacturer, that has been selling these drugs in the name of herbal medicine to gullible consumers.”

He also said the department is yet to establish where these drugs were supposed to be distributed, but there is demand from across the state.

Speaking with TOI, an official said “It was an industry worth millions that clandestinely ran out of Tier-2 and 3 cities or slums in metros. Under the Act, manufacturing of ayurveda drugs needs a licence, but there are no legal provisions for distribution and supply. So monitoring becomes a challenge.”

Dr Rajan Bhonsle, head of sexual medicine at KEM Hospital told TOI, “It’s a menace that has existed for years unchecked. Ayurveda practitioners charge exorbitant sums for ayurveda medicines that illegally contain sildenafil, which otherwise costs just Rs 30-40 when sold as an allopathy drug. I have known cases where patients have paid Rs 4,000 for four ayurveda pills.”

He said with an increasing number of youngsters grappling with erectile dysfunction and many opting for so-called ayurveda medicines believing them to be free of side-effects, such scams can have serious consequences.

“Adulteration is also bringing a bad name to the science of ayurveda. Registration of fraudulent firms must be canceled,” Dr Laxman Jadhav, president of state branch of National Integrated Medical Association told the daily.